Leading fast-casual poke concept slated to debut locations in Toronto, Burlington and Ottawa starting in November
Renowned for launching the worldwide poke movement, Pokeworks is dedicated to meeting the growing demand for high-quality, premium fast-casual cuisine. Before the year is out, Pokeworks will introduce its innovative flavours to Canadian guests for the first time.
Slated to open between November and March of next year, the first four Pokeworks restaurants in Canada will include:
- Toronto: 197 North Queen Street, Etobicoke; slated to open in mid-November 2023
- Burlington: 2435 Appleby Line; opening planned for January 2024
- Barrhaven (Ottawa): 51 Marketplace Avenue; opening planned for January 2024
- The Well: Front & Spadina, Toronto; opening planned for March 2024
These Pokeworks locations are the latest additions to the impressive portfolio of Eat Up Canada, a group focused on developing and introducing exciting restaurant concepts in the Canadian market. Led by experienced restaurateurs George Heos and Alex Gerzon, the company is the master franchisee for Pokeworks in Canada.
“We are thrilled to introduce our premium, handcrafted poke bowls to new guests north of the border in partnership with our dedicated franchise partners, George and Alex,” said Pokeworks CEO Regina Cheung. “We are committed to providing unparalleled support to our franchise owners so the Pokeworks brand can stay at the culinary forefront across North America.”
Pokeworks’ support team works directly with franchisees to ensure everyday operations and culinary innovation that exceeds customer expectations and generate brand loyalty. All franchisees have a variety of resources at their disposal, including a full-time training and operations manager, giving them access to the brand’s extensive experience within the industry. Pokeworks’ efforts to maximize each franchisee’s success is evidenced by the company’s investment in training, operational optimization, supply chain management, best-in-class marketing, human resources and IT.
Pokeworks’ Canadian expansion reinforces its mission to make the brand’s famous poke bowls available to guests on a global scale. Pokeworks currently operates 72 domestic and international locations, with numerous new multi-unit area development agreements (ADAs) in place and 12 new restaurants in development across the U.S. in 2023 alone.
Pokeworks is recognized in Entrepreneur’s 2023 Franchise 500 list, ranked #12 on Fast Casual’s 2023 “Movers & Shakers” list, and is the only poke concept named to Entrepreneur’s Best of the Best Franchises.
To learn more about Pokeworks, its locations and its full menu, visit pokeworks.com.
Pokeworks was founded in 2015 with the simple mission of spreading its love of fresh, healthy, and delicious poke – a renowned staple of Hawaiian cuisine – with the wo world. Pokeworks’ innovative Poke Your Way approach is groundbreaking, offering guests limitless ways to customize their poke order to match their eating preferences including vegan, gluten-free, and other mindful diets. The Poke Burrito has developed a cult-like following, much like Pokeworks’ proprietary sauces, which range from sweet and spicy to savory. Pokeworks believes in living a healthy lifestyle and eating meals made from the freshest, highest quality ingredients from sustainable food sources. In 2022, the brand was honored to be named the “Top Poke Franchise” by Startups Magazine. Pokeworks has quickly expanded to become the leading fast-casual poke brand in the world with four consecutive years on Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” list as well as Entrepreneur’s 2023 “Best of the Best Franchises” and Franchise 500 Ranking. Pokeworks has more than 72 locations across US, Taiwan, and Mexico, with Canada coming soon. For more information visit pokeworks.com or follow Pokeworks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. To learn about franchising with Pokeworks, visit pokeworksfranchise.com.
- More from Pokeworks
